Romney speaks to Independence Hall Tea Party at 'tax day summit'

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

With the Republican nomination in hand but skeptics remaining on his right, Mitt Romney told a "tax day summit" of tea party activists at the Franklin Institute Monday night that he was determined to shrink the federal government and keep runaway regulation and high taxes from killing jobs.

"The economy is struggling because the government is too big, and we're going to bring it down to size," Romney told about 400 cheering people at the event organized by the Independence Hall Tea Party. "This campaign is going to be fun. The contrast could not be greater."

President Obama "doesn't understand the power and importance of economic freedom," Romney said. "I just don't think he understands what makes America such an exceptional and successful nation."

A wealthy former venture capitalist, Romney also ridiculed the "Buffett Rule," the measure being pushed by Obama and congressional Democrats to ensure the wealthiest Americans pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes. The proposal was blocked Monday in a Senate vote.

3. I saw part of his speech on C-Span and

when he brought up the the Buffet rule, the crowd booed. Now, what % of that audience would ever be in a position to have to pay a 30% tax on their millions? Why are non-rich people so keen on protecting rich peoples' money?

4. In a related event: GOP Congressman Key Speaker At ‘We Will Not Be Silenced By Faggots’ Tea Party

Rally

Republican U.S. Congressman Louie Gohmert was the keynote speaker Sunday at a Patriots Day Tea Party rally in Boston, Massachusetts, that featured scheduled speakers from not one but two certified anti-gay hate groups. The Massachusetts Tea Party Coalition’s rally was expected to be so toxic that the Greater Boston Tea Party urged members to avoid it.

Rep. Gohmert of Texas, who last year labeled President Obama’s jobs bill, “something nice he’s throwing out for gay folks,” and claimed it “takes a shot at traditional, conventional marriage,” also last year called President Obama an “Evil Emperor,” riding around in his “Darth Vader bus“ on a “magical misery tour.”

Gohmert told the audience that “Obamacare means the government has the right to control everything,” but his presence was dwarfed by the presence of Rev. Scott Lively of Abiding Truth Ministries, one of the two Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) anti-gay hate groups that were invited to speak. The other certified anti-gay hate group invited to speak was Mass Resistance.

So, who uttered the “We will not be silenced by faggots,” comment? While it’s still unclear, reports state — and Wooledge writes — that the comment was made by a speaker on stage, over the P.A. system, in response to the pro-LGBT rally protesting the Mass Tea Party rally.